Bhubaneswar: It’s not every day that a cultural institution completes 25 glorious years, and Nrutya Prativa made sure to mark the occasion with style and substance.
One of the prestigious Odissi dance institutions in the state, Nrutya Prativa, founded in 2000 by Guru Prativa Panda, rolled out the red carpet for its silver jubilee celebrations, hosting a two-day extravaganza that had art lovers eating out of their hands.
The first edition of the Nrutya Prativa and Raja Prativa Utsav 2025 took place at Utkal Rangamanch on June 12, with Guru Dr Dipti Routray receiving the coveted Raja Prativa Samman 2025. A lineup of soul-stirring Odissi performances set the tone for what was to follow.
The second leg of the celebration unfolded at Rabindra Mandap on Friday and turned out to be a feast for the senses.
The event kicked off with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by a bevy of distinguished personalities – including former MPs Prasanna Pattasani and Prashant Nanda, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, literary giant Prof. Santanu Kumar Acharya, eminent dance gurus Durga Charan Ranbir and Dr. Snehaprava Samantaray, and Hi-Tech Group chairman Dr. Tirupati Panigrahi.The institution’s president Dr. Rajani Ranjan Dash, vice-president Bankim Chandra Nayak, and founder-secretary Guru Prativa Panda also shared the spotlight, welcoming guests with open arms.
Staying true to the spirit of gratitude, Nrutya Prativa tipped its hat to a long list of individuals who have been the wind beneath its wings over the years. From dance gurus to musicians, mentors to supporters – each was felicitated in a heartwarming segment that paid homage to their contributions. They were Prashant Nanda, Professor Ramahari Das, Dr. Snehaprava Samantaray, Pradosh Patnaik, Guru Dhaneshwar Swain, Guru Laxmikant Palit, Guru Dr. Gajendra Panda, Guru Bharat Chandra Giri, Guru Nimkant Routray, Guru Sukant Kundu, Chittaranjan Malla, Guru Patrambar Biswal, Guru Sanatan Nayak, Guru Debabrata Das, Guru Susanta Das, Guru Pravat Swain, Guru Maheswar Sahu, Dr. Srinivas Ghatuari, Dr. Mrutunjaya Rath, Dr. Lalini Nihar Nayak, Smrutikanta Rout and Hari Chauhan.
Highlighting the age-old Guru-Shishya tradition, Guru Prativa Panda and her disciples offered a floral tribute to her own guru — Padma Shri Guru Durga Charan Ranbir — a moving moment that touched many hearts.
But the real show-stopper was a mesmerizing bouquet of choreographies Guru Prativa Panda created in the past 25 years. A team of 17 well-trained dancers took the stage by storm, performing pieces like ‘Panchabhuta’, ‘Chaushathi Yogini’, ‘Nataraj’, ‘Swaraswati Bandana’, ‘Jagannath Ashtakam’, ‘Dayana Phula Chori’, ‘Buddha’, ‘Nari’, ‘Gandhari Katha’, ‘Gita Govinda’, ‘Kanchi Abhijana’, ‘Education’, ‘Asa Bapu Pari Aame Heba’ and ‘Chha Rutu’.
The presentation culminated in a touching tribute, as the dancers bowed in reverence and offered their heartfelt guru vandana to their mentor, Guru Prativa Panda.
Their flawless transitions, graceful movements, and ability to slip into different characters at the drop of a hat left the audience glued to their seats.
One of the most talked-about highlights was the presentation of ‘Chaushathi Yogini’ by six dancers from Guru Panda’s very first batch. Their bond with their guru was evident as they danced their hearts out, with music by Guru Sukant Kumar Kundu and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain.
The evening continued with items like Mangalacharan ‘Guru Vandana’, ‘Badya Pallavi’, ‘Mo Jaga Kaliare’, ‘Gabharu Rajanigandha’ and emotive abhinayas such as ‘Dekha Go Sakhi’ and ‘Sakhi Go Ama Kunjaku Aaja’.
The younger crop of dancers lit up the stage with foot-tapping folk numbers like ‘Mahula Jhare’, ‘Maila Jada’, ‘Lusku Lusa’, and ‘Dhemsa’. The final flourish came with ‘Raja Mauja’, performed by the senior dancers – a performance that brought the curtain down on a truly unforgettable evening.
The event was seamlessly anchored by Dr. Mrutunjaya Rath, who kept the ball rolling throughout the night.
